voice;

[schild]

So it's looking like more and more of us remember stuff like giants and titans and the 3DMGs and the Survey Corps... I was thinking maybe we should all get together and share what we know with each other? Maybe we can have a better idea of what this "world" was and why all our past lives had that in common. Who knows, we might learn something that can help us out now.

Obviously, we're all in a bit of a bind with how tough things are, but since Bertl and I can't really go outside... maybe you guys could come here? You guys can bring some snacks and stuff and we'll just talk about things. I mean, I know our memories can get kinda gruesome, but it'll help to share and know you're not alone, right?

Of course, uh, this means you guys are gonna have to see my face, so... let me know if you want me to show you now so you don't flip out in front of all of us, haha.

[ That's... a thing that happened, yeah. ]

So, whaddya say?

Comments

[wasthatmymom]

I'm sure, dude.

The other me would think I were a wimp, bet he puts up with way worse.

[schild]

Well, if you insist.

[ He switches to video. Now you get to enjoy his mostly-titan face in glorious 2D. ]

Any better?

[wasthatmymom]

[DEEP BREATHES. Connie just barely manages to compose himself.]

It helps...that you're behind a screen. Like...I don't know, dracula.

See! [Sorry Ryan but he isn't totally making eye contact at the moment.]

No problems...Ah...

[schild]

Dracula?

[ Ryan quirks his head. That's... not the worst, right? He can see that Connie's still uncomfortable, but he's trying. ]

Hey, you're doing good, see?

[wasthatmymom]

Yo man, don't...don't talk to me like that, okay?

[Another heavy sigh. He's so uncomfortable right now.]

I'm being so fuckin' disrespectful to you. You're the one with the face...I shouldn't have to be "doing good", it shouldn't be a fuckin' deal at all...

[schild]

I look like somebody who walked off the set of a monster flick. I get it.

[ It's a little hard to tell with the glowing, but Ryan's gaze turns sympathetic. ]

It's not disrespectful. You can't help being scared, y'know?

[wasthatmymom]

...It sucks, man.

[Connie makes sure not to look away. As he stares, something seems to change in him. His lip quivers slightly.]

I'm sorry.

If it were me, I dunno what I'd do.

And...And man, man, I...I thought we were friends...

[A pause. Connie doesn't look like he understands the words that just came out of his own mouth.]

[schild]

[ That's a little weird to say, and it stings too. What's that about? ]

Hey, we are friends.

[ He pauses, unsure of what else to say... ]

Aren't we?

[wasthatmymom]

Yeah, yeah I'm just...

[He presses his palms against his eyes, hands shaking.]

Holy shit. You're fucking huge.

[schild]

You remembered that much, huh?

[ Ryan remembers a couple bits of himself as the Armored Titan, so... ]

Well, I was a titan. Those tend to be pretty big.

[wasthatmymom]

I was mad, 'cuz you were running away...I wanted you to stop, 'cuz we were friends...

I was screaming and yelling at you, but you kept going...

[Peeking through the holes between his fingers.]

Were you really my enemy?

[schild]

I don't... I don't remember.

[ This is the first he's heard of that, but... Ryan looks down, burying his face in his hands for a moment. ]

I do remember being chased. As for what happened to that other me, why was he running...? I don't know. [ Enemies? But they'd all been friends before! ]

I hope not. I care about you guys-- I cared then, too. I can't even imagine... us being enemies.

[wasthatmymom]

Y-yeah...Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding or somethin'? You look different from all the other monsters, so...So that must mean you act different too, right?

[A fragile smile.]

You're one'a the good guys, you gotta be...

[schild]

Yeah, that's gotta be it!

[ Hey, Ryan can put on a strong face for you, Connie. He smiles, or he tries at least. It's even genuine, unlike Reiner's! ]

I was different. Eren and me and Bertholdt-- we weren't like the others. We were on your side. Definitely.

[wasthatmymom]

[Cocks an eyebrow.]

Wait, who the hell is Eren?

[schild]

Oh, uh-- that's Alan. Or it was his name back then, anyway.

[ Slip of the tongue, whoops. ]

[wasthatmymom]

[Crosses his arms.]

Wonder if I had one of those. Maybe like, something that wasn't also a girl's name...

[Sigh.]

So...What do you plan on doing, now? Now that you're all...

[schild]

I don't exactly remember... But I'll keep an ear out for it.

[ Connie is a manly name, you're just like a bitty little Connor, Connie. ]

Mostly I've just been staying in. Had to quit my job and stuff, but I figure it's not gonna get better or go away unless I keep having echoes, so... two birds with one stone if we can get everybody together and share what we know.

[wasthatmymom]

Aren't you afraid of like, I don't know...

Becoming fifty feet tall?

I don't want you to get Godzilla'd...Or King Kong'd.

[schild]

That... would be a problem, yeah.

But I can't just hope they'll stop, either. Gotta keep going forward, or else there'd be no point to getting this far.